Which bass should I buy for tapping?

[tjler]

Hi so my price range will be around $800-$1800 and I'm looking to buy a 6 string bass for tapping. Though if you have any 4 or 5 string basses to recommend I'm more than open to it.

I'm looking at the Ibanez BTB686SC but does anyone know how much it weighs and if it'll be a big negative?

Any recommendations would be sweet, thanks!

 

[Veeence]

I have one - the damn thing weighs a ton, but it sits well on the body (I have a pretty slender frame). I don't know what factors contribute, whether its the through neck, the wood or the pickups, but the bass has a really big bottom end with a strong fundamental. The EQ can always brighten things up, but this is the darkest bass I own. I'm not sure if that would be necessarily conducive to tapping or if you want something with a single coil or parallel humbucker setup with a bolt on neck..

Other than that, I really like it. It plays great and has a really nice neck - which has 5 string spacing, unlike other 6 strings which get rather narrow. It's not a rock bass though, as it has difficulty cutting through other guitars I've found..

 

[Shovel]

Chapman Stick? Megatar?

 

[Veeence]

Piano on it's side? I kid i kid!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Yes, Stick it!

 

[Happynoj]

Warwick Thumb. Nice flat radius, two bridge pickups. Available in Broadneck if you want the wider spacing, or the regular model if you prefer narrower spacing.

 

[old spice]

This is out of price range, but...
http://www.talkbass.com/index.php?threads/NS-stick-price-drop-2500.1111739/

 

[rtav]

Check out the Skeletone basstapper too - nice handmade (and inexpensive) variation of the Chapman Stick (you can do 28" or 34" scale, 8 [or more] strings, etc). Check out http://www.talkbass.com/threads/brand-new-skeletone-tappers-have-landed.854310/

For a bass guitar I do a lot of tapping on my Yamaha RBXJM2 which works really well, is gorgeous and within your price range, but can be hard to find.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I would avoid Warwick or BTB's if you intend to do long shows, both basses are usually over 10 pounds when looking at 6ers. My BTB 676 killed me on 3-hour nights.

Any bass that is capable of a nice low action can be good for tapping. I will need more requirements than that and a budget to really give good suggestions, there are piles of options that meet your current requirements.

 

[BioWeapon]

Wait, up to 1800$ did you say? You can get a brand spankin' new Conklin GT7 or GTBD7 for that price.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Check out the Skeletone basstapper too - nice handmade (and inexpensive) variation of the Chapman Stick (you can do 28" or 34" scale, 8 [or more] strings, etc). Check out http://www.talkbass.com/threads/brand-new-skeletone-tappers-have-landed.854310/

That thing is wild! Too bad the video on that thread isn't working anymore. Thanks for the link.

 

[rtav]

That thing is wild! Too bad the video on that thread isn't working anymore. Thanks for the link.

Well checkout his facebook page - look for the videos. He does some demos of the Basstapper there.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skeletone-Tappers/291126257572658?sk=videos&ref=page_internal

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I had a Chapman Stick for 2 or 3 years. I sold it as I found out I can't tap very well. Also, I sold my '79 Stingray because I can't slap. I'm starting to think I have an 'ap' deficiency.
(I know, I know, you don't give a cr.....)

 

[Sav'nBass]

I had a Chapman Stick for 2 or 3 years. I sold it as I found out I can't tap very well. Also, I sold my '79 Stingray because I can't slap. I'm starting to think I have an 'ap' deficiency.
(I know, I know, you don't give a cr.....)

LoL... I am trying to get into tapping now.. it is a slow go...